Overview of schemes

What is a scheme?

The purpose of schemes is to provide visibility and transparency to the users of products and services. This is so that when conformity assessment activities are undertaken, it is clear that claims are underpinned by valid requirements and specifications. Where scheme owners wish for their schemes to be underpinned through the accredited conformity assessment route, UKAS are required to review the scheme to ensure it is valid and can be recognised and suitable for accredited conformity assessment.

Every scheme has a scheme owner. A scheme owner can be a CAB itself, a government authority, an industry association or another body. In the absence of an identifiable scheme owner, any Conformation Assessment Body (CAB) wishing to provide evaluation for a scheme takes on the responsibility for the scheme. Where the scheme is not owned by a CAB, it is referred to as an “external scheme owner”.

Schemes enable stakeholders, including users of accredited conformity assessment, to understand the parameters against which an item or entity has been assessed when a statement of conformity has been made.

Recognition of schemes

UKAS has a formal process to recognise schemes that have been developed by scheme owners to support accredited conformity assessment bodies in consistently delivering their services.

UKAS’s scheme review process follows methods that can result in schemes being recognised within the UK as well as international markets, giving confidence that they are fit for purpose and eligible for Accreditation purposes.